So, sermonpress.blogspot.com contains my archive of those given from this year. Incidentally, I uploaded them in reverse order of when they were typed, so the ones at the bottom are the most recent. Silly me.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sermon Archive
I've decided to start archiving my sermons. Mostly for personal benefit/reference and not so much because I think they're so grand that the world needs to see them. Frankly, a lot of the content of this year's sermons were borrowed (and acknowledged), and it is with this year's sermons that I am beginning the archive, not the years past. This year began my learning/attempting sermons in a grammatico-historical expositional method, particularly popular amongst Refomed preachers, as I myself have embraced Reformed theology more fully this year past. And, in light of this year's sermons, the ones in the past stunk and will not be archived.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Who do you say that I Am?
I can't say enough good things about this post. I simply love how poignantly and blunty DeYoung trashes the variety of psuedo-spiritual attitudes among evangelicals and people in general who have deluded themselves into thinking they actually know what they are talking about.
God knows we like to creat idols. Why else would it be forbidden in the Second Commandment? Even when God has graciously revealed His character to us in his Word and His Son, we still like to pervert it and mold it into whatever shallow, non-judgmental characteristics best fit our pathetic idea of what God should be like.
Man, we are full of ourselves.
(I especially like his mockery of the " Boyfriend Jesus" and the mystical-spiritual worship nonsense that goes on and is advocated by the modern church)
God knows we like to creat idols. Why else would it be forbidden in the Second Commandment? Even when God has graciously revealed His character to us in his Word and His Son, we still like to pervert it and mold it into whatever shallow, non-judgmental characteristics best fit our pathetic idea of what God should be like.
Man, we are full of ourselves.
(I especially like his mockery of the " Boyfriend Jesus" and the mystical-spiritual worship nonsense that goes on and is advocated by the modern church)
I Like What the Bible Teaches
By Kevin DeYoung
Christians should not only believe what the Bible teaches, they should like what the Bible teaches. All Scripture is not just tolerable, but profitable and breathed out by God (2 Tim. 3:16).The law should be our delight (Psalm 1:2; 119:77; Rom. 7:2). We should love the commandments of God (Psalm 119:47; 1 John 5:3).
This means perfunctory obedience is not the goal. We don't want to submit to our husbands out of duty, or sacrifice for our wives because we have to do, or refrain from sex because God's a meanie and he must be listened to, but because we want to. God wants more than begrudging obedience or external conformity, he wants us to delight in the law of God in our inner being. So pay attention not just to your wills, but to your affections.
This also means that we should do away with the pseudo-spiritual language of "I don't like what the Bible says about this, but I still believe it." Poppycock. While I suppose, all things considered, its better that someone embrace complementarianism kicking and screaming rather than not at all, why are you kicking and screaming at God's word in the first place? I understand that we may all have periods of struggle where we wrestle to fully understand and embrace some element of biblical teaching. But as an indefinite attitude, begrudging acceptance is not a good option. Don't we trust that God is good? Is not the law of the Lord our delight?
Believing but not liking what the Bible says is also a common refrain when it comes to the doctrine of hell. Obviously, none of us should be gleeful to think of sinners suffering in eternal torment. After all, Paul was pretty torn up about the plight of his kinsmen according to the flesh. But anguish over the souls of the lost is different than wholesale ambivalence about the existence of hell. When we say things like "If it were up to me I wouldn't have a hell, but God's word teaches it so I believe it" we are not being extra pious, only extra insulting.
First of all, it's not about to us. It never has been and never will be, so let's get that off the table. Second, when we put things this way it sounds like we consider ourselves better than God, like we're trying to be "good cop" to God's "bad cop." Third, and most importantly, we are missing the point of hell. God is glorified in the judgment of the wicked. That's a big gulp for postmodern (or modern) ears, but it's true. Were it not for hell, God's justice would not be upheld and the glory of his name would not be vindicated. If we accept the doctrine of hell only begrudgingly, we have not learned to delight in the glory of God above all else. We have not yet learned to pray as our first and foremost request, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name."
The Bible is true and the Bible is good. When we accept its truth without actually liking it, we have only come half way to mature faith. We are like kids saying "I'm sorry" while rolling our eyes, like a husband getting flowers so his wife won't be ticked, like a lover skimming through a letter from her beloved when she should be cherishing every word and every truth in her heart. Read the Bible. Believe the Bible. Delight in all that it affirms. Anything less is not good for your soul.
Christians should not only believe what the Bible teaches, they should like what the Bible teaches. All Scripture is not just tolerable, but profitable and breathed out by God (2 Tim. 3:16).The law should be our delight (Psalm 1:2; 119:77; Rom. 7:2). We should love the commandments of God (Psalm 119:47; 1 John 5:3).
This means perfunctory obedience is not the goal. We don't want to submit to our husbands out of duty, or sacrifice for our wives because we have to do, or refrain from sex because God's a meanie and he must be listened to, but because we want to. God wants more than begrudging obedience or external conformity, he wants us to delight in the law of God in our inner being. So pay attention not just to your wills, but to your affections.
This also means that we should do away with the pseudo-spiritual language of "I don't like what the Bible says about this, but I still believe it." Poppycock. While I suppose, all things considered, its better that someone embrace complementarianism kicking and screaming rather than not at all, why are you kicking and screaming at God's word in the first place? I understand that we may all have periods of struggle where we wrestle to fully understand and embrace some element of biblical teaching. But as an indefinite attitude, begrudging acceptance is not a good option. Don't we trust that God is good? Is not the law of the Lord our delight?
Believing but not liking what the Bible says is also a common refrain when it comes to the doctrine of hell. Obviously, none of us should be gleeful to think of sinners suffering in eternal torment. After all, Paul was pretty torn up about the plight of his kinsmen according to the flesh. But anguish over the souls of the lost is different than wholesale ambivalence about the existence of hell. When we say things like "If it were up to me I wouldn't have a hell, but God's word teaches it so I believe it" we are not being extra pious, only extra insulting.
First of all, it's not about to us. It never has been and never will be, so let's get that off the table. Second, when we put things this way it sounds like we consider ourselves better than God, like we're trying to be "good cop" to God's "bad cop." Third, and most importantly, we are missing the point of hell. God is glorified in the judgment of the wicked. That's a big gulp for postmodern (or modern) ears, but it's true. Were it not for hell, God's justice would not be upheld and the glory of his name would not be vindicated. If we accept the doctrine of hell only begrudgingly, we have not learned to delight in the glory of God above all else. We have not yet learned to pray as our first and foremost request, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name."
The Bible is true and the Bible is good. When we accept its truth without actually liking it, we have only come half way to mature faith. We are like kids saying "I'm sorry" while rolling our eyes, like a husband getting flowers so his wife won't be ticked, like a lover skimming through a letter from her beloved when she should be cherishing every word and every truth in her heart. Read the Bible. Believe the Bible. Delight in all that it affirms. Anything less is not good for your soul.
Friday, June 12, 2009
I’m pleased to announce that Cal.vini.st has procured two copies of BibleWorks 8 as prizes — the premier software tool for original language exegesis of the Biblical text. Each copy of BibleWorks 8 is valued at $349 (US). It is a tremendous privilege to be able to give opportunity for two of my readers to win a copy of this terrific software package. I trust it will be used of the Lord in your sanctification, and His glory.Sunday, June 7, 2009
Trusting God's Judgment
If we're children of Christ and we stand before the judgment seat of God on the last day and God says to us, "You're covered by the blood of my Son, and it's a good thing, because you did this, this, this, this, and this," we won't say, "But, Lord, I did this in Your name, I did that in Your name. You really aren't being fair." However, there will be many who will respond in just that manner. Jesus is going to say to those people, "Please leave, I don't know who you are." A person who trusts God trusts not only His promises but His judgment. Even in a prayer of contrition, such a person acknowledges that God would be absolutely justified to destroy him for his sin. You can never come to God's church, come to the Lord's Table, thinking that God owes you something. If you do, you're better off not to pray, not to commune, because you are blaspheming and slandering the Giver of every good and perfect gift, Who has treated you only with mercy.
*****
From A Taste for Heaven: Worship in the Light of Eternity by R.C. Sproul.
Friday, June 5, 2009
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